Korean Ground Beef Bowl (Printable)

Savory seasoned ground beef over rice with tangy quick pickled vegetables for a healthy Korean-inspired meal.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Beef

01 - 1 lb lean ground beef
02 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari for gluten-free option
03 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
04 - 1 tablespoon brown sugar
05 - 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
06 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 teaspoon gochujang or sriracha, optional for heat
08 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
09 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds

→ Rice Base

10 - 4 cups cooked jasmine rice or cauliflower rice

→ Quick Pickled Vegetables

11 - 1 cup carrot, julienned
12 - 1 cup cucumber, thinly sliced
13 - 1/2 cup radish, thinly sliced
14 - 1/2 cup rice vinegar
15 - 1 tablespoon sugar
16 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Garnish

17 - Additional green onions, sliced
18 - Extra sesame seeds

# How-To Steps:

01 - In a bowl, combine rice vinegar, sugar, and salt, stirring until dissolved. Add carrot, cucumber, and radish, tossing to coat evenly. Let sit for at least 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
02 - Prepare jasmine rice or cauliflower rice according to package instructions. Keep warm until assembly.
03 - In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add ground beef. Cook while breaking apart with a spoon until browned and cooked through, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
04 - Add soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, and gochujang to the beef. Stir thoroughly and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until fragrant and saucy.
05 - Remove from heat and stir in sliced green onions and sesame seeds.
06 - Divide rice base evenly among serving bowls. Top each portion with seasoned ground beef and a generous handful of pickled vegetables.
07 - Garnish each bowl with additional green onions and sesame seeds. Serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The pickled vegetables add this unexpected tangy brightness that cuts through the rich, savory beef in the most satisfying way.
  • It comes together in about 35 minutes, making it perfect for those nights when you're hungry but don't want to fuss.
  • You can swap the rice for cauliflower rice without losing any of the magic, which was my biggest win this year.
02 -
  • Don't skip draining the excess beef fat, or you'll end up with a greasy bowl that feels heavy instead of vibrant.
  • Those pickled vegetables need at least 15 minutes to become crisp-tangy delicious, so don't rush this step thinking you can skip it.
03 -
  • Toast your own sesame seeds in a dry skillet for about two minutes and your whole bowl suddenly tastes more intentional and alive.
  • If your pickled vegetables taste too vinegary, you added too much vinegar or not enough sugar, so taste as you go next time and adjust.
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